Drugs

North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Justice Benjamin Limbach speaks, during a press conference on the record cocaine find worth billions in a cross-state raid, in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024 . German investigators said Monday they seized 35.5 metric tons of cocaine worth 2.6 billion euros ($2.78 billion) on different container ships and made seven arrests in connection with what they called the largest cocaine find in the country so far. (Roland Weihrauch/dpa via AP)

Gemany makes record $2.78B, 35.5-tonne cocaine seizure

Suspect accused of organizing transport of 10 sea containers full of drugs from Latin America

 

People gather outside the Provincial Court of British Columbia to support the Drug User Liberation Front in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Police say 2 Vancouver drug policy advocates charged with trafficking

Police executed search warrants on DULF’s Downtown Eastside offices last October

 

A smoker puts out a cigarette in a public ash tray in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. An April 2024 Research Co poll found 65 per cent of Canadians have a positive view of a new UK law that increases the age limit for buying cigarattes by a year every year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canadians in favour of U.K. law upping cigarette age limit each year: survey

Legal purchasing age raised by one year each year to ultimately cut off any new smokers

 

B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during an announcement in Delta, B.C., on Monday, March 18, 2024. The provincial government announced Friday (April 26) that it would be moving to band drug use in more public spaces, specifically inside hospitals, on transit and in parks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. to ban drug use in public spaces, including inside hospitals

Province working with feds to make changes to legality of possession

B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during an announcement in Delta, B.C., on Monday, March 18, 2024. The provincial government announced Friday (April 26) that it would be moving to band drug use in more public spaces, specifically inside hospitals, on transit and in parks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Supt. Davy Lee speaks during a press conference in Chilliwack on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Pictured here are some of the items seized from a large drug bust including $300,000 in vehicles, $500,000 in cash, and $5 million in street drugs. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

$5M in drugs, weapons seized in Lower Mainland bust: Chilliwack RCMP

‘Meticulous’ police operation executed by RCMP in Chilliwack, Langley, Surrey, Richmond

Supt. Davy Lee speaks during a press conference in Chilliwack on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Pictured here are some of the items seized from a large drug bust including $300,000 in vehicles, $500,000 in cash, and $5 million in street drugs. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
FILE - The injectable drug Ozempic is shown Saturday, July 1, 2023, in Houston. Drug regulators in Europe have found no evidence that popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are linked to a higher risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. The European Medicines Agency regulatory committee announced the results of its review on Friday, April 12, 2024. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

EU finds no link between weight loss drugs, suicide

Regulators say review finds no evidence that use of Ozempic, Wegovy increases risk of self-harm

FILE - The injectable drug Ozempic is shown Saturday, July 1, 2023, in Houston. Drug regulators in Europe have found no evidence that popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are linked to a higher risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. The European Medicines Agency regulatory committee announced the results of its review on Friday, April 12, 2024. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
As of March 31, 2024 BC Emergency Health Services has responded to 54 drug poisonings in the Williams Lake area. (Monica Lamb-Yorski file photo Williams Lake Tribune)

Tiny communities in B.C.’s Chilcotin grappling with pain of drug poisonings

Tsideldel, Xeni Gwet’in chiefs say residents are healing in the face of addiction

As of March 31, 2024 BC Emergency Health Services has responded to 54 drug poisonings in the Williams Lake area. (Monica Lamb-Yorski file photo Williams Lake Tribune)
BC United Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield in the B.C. Legislature during Question Period on April 11, 2023. (Legislature video)

Kelowna MLA blasts health minister over alleged illicit drug use in hospitals

Renee Merrifield says government’s “drug decriminalization experiment” putting nurses, patients at risk

BC United Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield in the B.C. Legislature during Question Period on April 11, 2023. (Legislature video)
File photo

Drugs, ammo, body armour seized in Highway 97 traffic stop at 141 Mile

BC Highway Patrol made initial seizure and arrest;Williams Lake RCMP seized another $3,000 cash

File photo
The 2023 B.C. Adolescent Health Survey was released on Feb. 21, 2024. (Pixabay)

B.C. adolescents having less sex and using fewer drugs, health survey finds

Those who are using drugs are more likely to have first tried them at a younger age, however

The 2023 B.C. Adolescent Health Survey was released on Feb. 21, 2024. (Pixabay)
New figures show at least 2,511 people died of regulated drugs in 2023 with several communities, both large and small, both urban and rural, seeing spikes. (Black Press Media file photo)

Downtown Eastside, but also B.C.’s rural communities hit hard by drug crisis

Several smaller communities saw unregulated drug deaths exceeding 100 per 100,000 population

New figures show at least 2,511 people died of regulated drugs in 2023 with several communities, both large and small, both urban and rural, seeing spikes. (Black Press Media file photo)
Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health makes a health care announcement in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Holland has been calling around to United States officials to let them know that the Canadian government will be guarding its medical drug supply after the U.S. moved to allow states to mass import medicine from Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol

Canada won’t be your drug store, health minister tells U.S. officials

Mark Holland chides U.S. officials over cost-saving scheme to buy Canadian drugs

Mark Holland, Canada’s Minister of Health makes a health care announcement in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Holland has been calling around to United States officials to let them know that the Canadian government will be guarding its medical drug supply after the U.S. moved to allow states to mass import medicine from Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol
Food and Drug Administration building is shown Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Silver Spring, Md. A major shift in United States pharmaceutical policy is creating fears about future drug shortages in Canada, now that manufacturers are allowed to export drugs south of the border. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Manuel Balce Ceneta

U.S. move to allow Canadian drug import sparks shortage fears up here

‘To look to Canada as their pharmacy is just not practical, we can’t do it’

Food and Drug Administration building is shown Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Silver Spring, Md. A major shift in United States pharmaceutical policy is creating fears about future drug shortages in Canada, now that manufacturers are allowed to export drugs south of the border. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Manuel Balce Ceneta
Methamphetamine and cocaine were found hidden in a suitcase at Abbotsford International Airport in March 2023. Martha Alvarado Lopez of Mexico has now been sentenced for drug smuggling. (CBSA photo)

Mexican traveller gets 6 years for smuggling drugs at Abbotsford airport

Martha Alvarado Lopez had meth and cocaine hidden in suitcase

Methamphetamine and cocaine were found hidden in a suitcase at Abbotsford International Airport in March 2023. Martha Alvarado Lopez of Mexico has now been sentenced for drug smuggling. (CBSA photo)
The British Columbia Supreme Court has blocked new provincial laws against public consumption of illegal substances. The Law Courts building, which is home to B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, is seen in Vancouver, on Thursday, November 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. Supreme Court blocks new law against public drug use

The Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act was passed by legislature in November

The British Columbia Supreme Court has blocked new provincial laws against public consumption of illegal substances. The Law Courts building, which is home to B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, is seen in Vancouver, on Thursday, November 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
FILE - The U.S. Supreme Court is seen before sunrise on Capitol Hill in Washington, March. 21, 2022. On Dec. 4, 2023, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would shield members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids.(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Drug giant’s settlement hearing determing accountability in opioid crisis

OxyContin maker’s bankruptcy deal goes before the Supreme Court, with billions of dollars at stake

  • Dec 4, 2023
FILE - The U.S. Supreme Court is seen before sunrise on Capitol Hill in Washington, March. 21, 2022. On Dec. 4, 2023, the Supreme Court will hear arguments over a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would shield members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids.(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
The BC Coroners Service says more than 2,000 people have died in the first 10 months of 2023 due to the toxic drug supply. People carry a makeshift coffin , representing the toxic drug deaths, along Powell Street in Vancouver on April 14, 2023 during an event marking the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug supply in B.C. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

2,000 British Columbians have died from toxic drugs so far in 2023

October is also the 37th consecutive month with at least 150 deaths

The BC Coroners Service says more than 2,000 people have died in the first 10 months of 2023 due to the toxic drug supply. People carry a makeshift coffin , representing the toxic drug deaths, along Powell Street in Vancouver on April 14, 2023 during an event marking the seventh anniversary of the toxic drug supply in B.C. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather in Victoria on April 14, 2022 to mark the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug death public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

‘Unconstitutional’: Harm reduction nurses suing B.C. over public drug use ban

Nurses association says new restrictions are putting drug user’s lives at further risk

Moms Stop the Harm advocates and supporters gather in Victoria on April 14, 2022 to mark the sixth anniversary of the toxic drug death public health emergency. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Psilocybin mushrooms sit on a drying rack in Springfield, Ore., Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. One of three magic mushroom stores that were raided by Vancouver police this week has already reopened, and the owner says his other two are restocking and will be open again on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Craig Mitchelldyer

Raided B.C. magic mushroom stores quickly reopening for business

Vancouver Police Department report seizing ‘a variety of controlled substances’

Psilocybin mushrooms sit on a drying rack in Springfield, Ore., Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. One of three magic mushroom stores that were raided by Vancouver police this week has already reopened, and the owner says his other two are restocking and will be open again on Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Craig Mitchelldyer
Brothers Keepers gang member Amandeep Singh Kang pleaded guilty to two charges in Vancouver Supreme Court on Oct. 30, 2023. (Photo courtesy of CFSEU-BC)

Brothers Keepers gang member pleads guilty to B.C. drug activity

Amandeep Singh Kang admits to participating in gang, conspiring to traffic drugs

Brothers Keepers gang member Amandeep Singh Kang pleaded guilty to two charges in Vancouver Supreme Court on Oct. 30, 2023. (Photo courtesy of CFSEU-BC)